Dufner beats Els to gain maiden victory

Jason Dufner finally won his first PGA Tour event after beating Ernie Els in a play-off for the Zurich Classic.

Dufner has been knocking on the door now for a while and this was the third play-off of his career. Most recently losing out to Keegan Bradley in The PGA Championship last year in an incredible finish.

Els and Dufner were locked together after 72 holes after the South African had made up three shots on the overnight leader with a solid round of 67.

But Dufner, looked nervy down the stretch in a closing 70 and went into the play-off as the underdog as Els seemed to be the man on form.

So off down the 18th they went both hitting good drives and both missing birdie putts  – first Dufner from eight feet and then Els from slightly closer in – and so they went back down the par-five for the third time in the day.

This time Dufner rolled his long putt up nearer the hole with Els just off the green in three after finding the bunker off the tee.

Els was unable to threaten the cup with his birdie putt leaving the American to tap in for his maiden victory after three runner-up finishes.

I think we’ll be seeing Dufner feature a lot more now he’s got his first victory under his belt. He is a massive talent with a cool head.

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